Automobile-headlight adjuster.



L. E. STEVENS 81 E. J. F'AIR'BROTHER.

AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT ADJUSTER.

APPLICATION men JAN. 9. 1915.

1,168,576 Patented Ja n.18, 1916.

anl 'lj WZZZB6SSK od'zbizzvi? THE COLUMBIA PLANODRAPH c0., WASHINGTON. D. C.

LOUIS E. STEVENS AND .ELBEIDGE L lT/fiIBBPiOTHER, HAVERL-IILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTDIVZOBiLEC IEADIIGHT ADJUSTER.

Patented Jan. f8, 1918.

Application filed. January 9, 1915. Serial No. 1,435.

To cZZ whom it may concern Be it knovvn that We, Louis STEVENS and l Jennies U. Farusnorr 'aens of Y s, residing at l-iarerhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachuset s, have invented an Improvement in fiutoinobile-tleadlight Adjusters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in means for automatically controlling the positions of automobile head lights, so that, in passing about a curve, the l1ghts will be turned in advance of the turning of the automobile body.

The objects of our invention are to provide a simple and effective means for automatically controlling the position of the head lights of an automobile, so as to direct the light inthe direction in Which the. front Wheels are turned, in advance of the turning of the both, and which is adapted to be readily applied to the common makes of automobiles. lVe accomplish these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawing, in Which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of an automobile provided With devices embodying our invention. is a side elevation thereof. l igs3 and l are detail views of the operating means.

As indicated in the drawings, the automobile body a is supportedby springs on the running gear, to which the front Wheels, as Z), are pivoted to swing about a vertical axis, said wheels having rearwardly extending arms, as c, which are connected by the link, or operating red d, said rod being moved longitudin ally to turn the Wheels by the steering-Wheel, all in dwell-known manner.

According to our invention, we provide a bracket 6, which is adapted to be supported on the frontof the automobile body in any suitable manner, and .a bearing tube f is mounted in a vertical position in said bracket. A lamp-sin mounted to rotate in said tube 7, on suitable bearings at the upperand lower endsthereof, the upper end of the shaft 9 being provided with forks ii in which the head light 11 is supported.

A cross-bar is mounted in the lower end of the shaft 9, to provide a pair of arms j, which extend at right angles to the shaft at opposite sides thereof. A horizontally disiporting shaft 9 is posed bracket in is adjustably secured to the steering rod (Z, by means of a suitable clamp, in a position to extend horizontally toward the lower end of the shaft 9, andthe front end of said bracket is connected to the opposite ends of the arms 7', by means of a pair of links a, n, which consist of a stiff Wire bent into a coil n in the middle, after its cnd-portions have been passed in opposite directions through an aperture m, in the end of bracket m, of suflicient size to permit the coil to slide easily therein. The ends of the link portions 92, n, are connected to short coil springs 0, 0, which are, in turn, connected to the end-portion at the arms j.

In adjusting the parts of the devices in position for use, the tube 7 is vertically adjusted in the bracket 6 to such position that the arms j, link 91,, n, and bracket m will normally lie in the same horizontal plane, so that, When the body Which carries said bracket 6, and parts supported thereby, moves up or down, with relation to the front axle, Which supports the steering rod (Z, the extent of such movement from such point will be as small as possible, this up-anddmvn movement being permitted by the springs 0, 0.

ln use, when the steering rod (Z is moved longitudinally to turn the Wheels to differ ent angles, the bracket m Will be moved laterally, causing one or the other of the links n, n to be pulled so as to swing the arms 1' and turn the shaft with the head light toward the side to which the front Wheels are being swung, thus directing the light therefrom in the direction in which the body of the automobile is to be turned, or is to travel. In thus moving to turn the Wheels, the rod (Z not only moves longitudinally, but also laterally toward the lamp-supporting shaft, so that the extent to which the spring 0, or 0, would be stretched to compensate for the lateral movement of the bracket, as it is carried by rod (Z, is inconsiderable. At be same time, the parts are held in close engagement, so that there is practically no lost motion, or opportunity for the shaft 9 to sway or swing from positively moved.

With the above-described construction, the extent to which the shaft 9 Will be turned, for a given lateral movement of the positions to Which it is bracket arm m, will depend on the proX imity of the end of said arm to the shaft 9,

2'. 6., the shorter the distance therebetween, the greater the movement, and vice versa.

The above-described form of connection between the shaft and the transverse operating link, or rod may be readily applied to any ordinary make of automobile employing a steering gear of the above-described character. It is also vof simple and ineX- pensive construction and unlikely toget out o-forder.

It Will be understood that the abovedescribed arrangement is adapted to be applied to a lamp at each side of the automobile body, the mechanismbeing merely dupli'cated in a mannerivhich Will be obvious. We claim I ,1. In combination with the longitudinally movable steering rod of an automobile, a vertically disposed, lamp-supporting shaft mountedindependently or said rod, a pair of arms mounted on said, shaft and projecting equally therefrom in oppositely dis 7 posed positions, a bracket mounted on said rod disposed at approximately the level of the ends of said arms, and a pair of elastic,-

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 'links yieldingly connecting each of said arms and said bracket.

2. In combination With the lon 'itudinallv I t) v movable steering rod ofan automobile, a

ing equally therefrom in oppositely disposed 1 positions, a bracket mounted on said rod and extending into proximity to said shaft to a pos'ition'normally equidistant from the .ends of said arms,-and a loop-shaped Wire having a' coiled middle portion slidably movable in the end oisaid bracket, and

havin its le s ieldinel connected to the e; a a i.) J ends of said arms.-

In testimony whereof, e have signed our names to this s ecification in the aresenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

Louis E. s'rnvnns. renames 5.. rarannornnn.

Witnesses L. H. HARRIM N, RANsoM C. PINGREE,

of Eatents,

Washington, I). C. 

